Street lighting

Who are we and what do we do?

The front line street lighting service is provided by the private sector company Dorset Lighting Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE). SSE is one of the UK's leading Energy companies and is also a major provider of national infrastructure projects including street lighting. Dorset Lighting Ltd was selected as the provider of street lighting services to Dorset County Council following a detailed procurement exercise carried out during 2005/2006.

Dorset Lighting Limited began a major programme to replace Dorset's existing street lighting stock in March 2007.  Most of the replacements will take place over the first five years of the twenty five year contract. They also assumed responsibility for the management, design, installation and ongoing repair and maintenance of Dorset's existing street lighting stock including illuminated traffic signs.

Why do we do it?

Street lighting is something many people take for granted but it is very important to us. It reduces the likelihood of road traffic accidents for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle users during the hours of darkness. It also increases the safety of our environment and property by reducing crime, the fear of crime and vandalism through the night.

However, the provision of street lighting in terms of electricity consumption is high and in this period of financial austerity a policy of part night lighting has been introduced for residential roads. This operating regime provides illumination when and where it is most needed, rather than all the time and regardless of location.

How can you contact us?

It is helpful if you let us know about street lights or illuminated traffic signs that are not working.

When you report a faulty street light or illuminated traffic sign we need the following information to help us repair it quickly:

• What road or street it is in

• What number house it is outside or opposite

• What number is displayed on the street lighting column

• What the post code of the area is

• What the fault is

Please bear in mind that most repairs are carried out in the daylight when it is not easy to establish which light is faulty without accurate information.

If a street light is damaged it may be dangerous, especially if any wiring can be seen. You should not attempt to help by covering up or touching the wires but, if necessary you should warn children to keep away. Please call us immediately so that we can make it safe as quickly as possible.

How quickly will repairs be carried out?

We aim to attend to emergencies within two hours.  Almost all straightforward repairs will be completed within five working days. Sometimes a fault is due to a failure in the electricity supply. In these cases the repair is not directly under our control and we have to instruct the Regional Electricity Board to carry out the necessary work.

How do we design our street lighting?

In designing lighting schemes we take into account the following:

• The cost of maintaining the equipment

• The durability of the equipment

• Energy efficiency

• Minimisation of light pollution

• Street lighting - frequently asked questions

  Frequently asked questions for street lighting

• Part night lighting - frequently asked questions

  Frequently asked questions about part night lighting.

• Report a faulty street light

  Report a faulty street light with SEC, who are contracted to take care of our street lighting.